Iran has expanded its maritime control zone in the Strait of Hormuz to include the Fujairah port in the United Arab Emirates [1].

This escalation threatens one of the region's most critical energy hubs and increases the risk of direct military engagement between Iran and the U.S. as tensions peak over maritime sovereignty.

The announcement came on the first day of a U.S. "liberation operation" [1]. Iranian military forces, specifically the Revolutionary Guard, said the new zone is designed to prevent unauthorized maritime movement that contradicts their established principles [1].

Officials said that any vessels entering the expanded zone without explicit permission could be attacked [1]. This move effectively extends Iranian influence further into the Gulf of Oman, placing the UAE's strategic infrastructure within a contested military perimeter.

An Iranian broadcast anchor, quoting a Revolutionary Guard statement, said that maritime movement not aligned with the Guard's declared principles would "face serious danger" [1].

The expansion occurs as the U.S. military maintains a presence in the region to ensure the free flow of commerce. The Revolutionary Guard said it would defend the newly set control zone to maintain security according to its own standards [1].

“Iran expanded its Hormuz control zone to include the UAE's Fujairah port”

By extending its control zone to the Fujairah port, Iran is attempting to exert leverage over a primary global oil bunkering hub. This move challenges the U.S.-led effort to maintain open sea lanes and transforms a geopolitical dispute into a tactical threat against UAE infrastructure, significantly increasing the likelihood of a kinetic clash in the Strait of Hormuz.